Arik Air, Nigeria’s leading commercial airline, has announced that it has carried a cumulative total of four million guests since the airline’s launch at the end of October 2006. Arik Air also announced that it carried 42% more guests during the period 21 December 2009 through 3 January 2010 compared with the same period a year earlier.

In announcing the significant milestone in the airline’s growth, Arik Air’s Group CEO, Dr Michael Arumemi-Ikhide, said the impressive figures highlight the determination that has driven the airline to its position today as Nigeria - and West Africa’s - largest commercial airline, and one of Africa’s fastest growing.

Dr Arumemi-Ikhide continued: “Since October 2006, when Arik Air commenced operations, we have achieved more than we could possibly have imagined. In November 2009, Arik Air launched the first non-stop flights in a decade by a Nigerian carrier between Lagos and New York, re-connecting Nigeria’s commercial hub with one of the world’s foremost centres for international business. The airline also launched its first long haul services from Abuja to London Heathrow and expanded services between Nigeria and West Coast markets. At the end of October 2009, when the airline celebrated its third anniversary, Arik Air had carried three and half million passengers and just two months later, that figure has risen by half a million. Arik Air has been the success story of Nigerian commercial aviation. That is set to continue and there is much still to achieve. During 2010, the airline plans to expand its market share in Nigeria to 66 percent, up from the current 40 percent and expects to carry six million passengers by the end of the year.”

Commenting on the significant rise in passengers over the Christmas period, he explained: “One factor contributing to the increase in the number of passengers carried at the end of 2009 was the airline’s response to the high level of seasonal demand before and after the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Offering services to 22 destinations within Nigeria, Arik Air was able to bring more Nigerian families together during the festive season than any other carrier. The special Christmas flight program that commenced from Monday, December 21, 2009 saw an increase in capacity from our two hubs of Lagos and Abuja, to Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Benin, Warri and Calabar. Arik Air also provided additional capacity and extra flights to bring passengers back to Lagos and Abuja after the Christmas and New Year festivities.”

He added: “The increased capacity meant that the airline operated a total of 1,169 flights between December 21, 2009 and January 3, 2010 representing a 20 percent increase over the same period in the preceding year. Allowing for regular flights and the additional flights, Arik Air carried a total of 75,687 passengers during the festive season, 42% more than during the same period a year earlier.”